Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Blizzard of 2015 Fully Underway; Obama Flying to Saudi Arabia

Aired January 27, 2015 - 04:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this morning, the Northeast biggest cities shutdown, crippled by historic monster blizzard, 58 million people in its path. Thousands now -- thousands of flights canceled. Schools are closed. Driing banned. People warned: stay at home today.

We are tracking latest on the storm. Lie team coerage starting now.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It's 29 minutes past the hour.

This morning, this huge, dangerous and historic blizzard of 2015 underway across the Northeast with freezing temperatures and snowfall amounts over two feet in some areas and wind gusts up to 70 miles an hour. Now, as many as 58 million people in a dozen states could be affected by the storm. Widespread travel ban was transport shutdown and emergency vehicles allowed on the road in many places.

Now, airlines have canceled 8,000 flights today and yesterday, hundreds more already canceled for tomorrow. Huge numbers of students across the blizzard area, they're going to get a snow day today. Public schools shutdown in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and many other cities.

Mayors and governors warning people, look, to stay off the roads, stay home even if it upsets the boss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK: Safety first. Your life matters the most and your health and safety matters the most. So the smart thing is to stay back. Any employer who is treating their employees the wrong way will certainly have something to say about that. This is not a time for employers to be cheapskates.

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER (R), MASSACHUSETTS: Whiteout conditions and treacherous roads will make driving extremely dangerous. I can't stress this part enough. Please stay off the roads.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

ROMANS: New York state may have dodged the worst of the storm. It is still having a big impact here. Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency for the state's southern counties. Thousands of flights canceled at New York airports, including virtually all flights at LaGuardia. Non-emergency travel is banned on New York City streets with subway, rail and bus service suspended. And New York City schools are closed to day, as are many other school systems in the state.

For more on conditions on the streets of New York, I want to bring in CNN's Chris Welch.

I mean, snow is still falling here. We should be clear this thing is not over. It is too soon to have any kind of a damage assessment here, because the snow is still falling and winds pick up later in the morning.

CHRIS WELCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely correct, Christine.

I want to point out -- the governor certainly did not mince words yesterday when he urged people to be cautious, take the officials' warnings, stay inside, do not drive on the streets, they are only for emergency vehicles at this point.

Take a look at the front of the vehicle, Christine. We are in the CNN roving coverage vehicle here. We are in midtown Manhattan, sort of on the west side near the west side highway.

Take a look. We have been driving throughout the night. We have not seen the heavy, heavy accumulation that many people were predicting would happen, would be on the ground by now by, what is it, 4:30 in the morning now.

But you can -- you can see the plows have been going through here pretty regularly. You have lines of taxis here. We're turning on to Tenth Avenue and pulling on the west side of Manhattan. Again, line of taxis, they've gotten sort of plowed in.

But, really, that snow bank that was created by the plow could have been bigger at this point. Now, it's very fair to say that this snow system is not over. We have not seen the end of it yet. You can see it is tough to see the flurries and fine snow. It sort of comes and goes in bands. Here in New York City, we have been on the edge of the brunt of the storm.

So far, managed to avoid a lot of it. It has been windy, we've seen those sustained winds at roughly 25 to 30 miles per hour. The latest check in Central Park, Christine, was 5.5 inches of snow.

But again, this is not over yet.

ROMANS: It's not over yet. And Mayor Bill de Blasio was preparing and warning about the worst and preparing for the worst. We have seen the plows out all night.

Chris Welch, so crazy to see just empty streets in New York City really. It doesn't happen very often.

Thanks, Chris.

John, I have been looking at the power companies. PSG&E saying they're testing their generators. They got 103 terminals ready, but there's less than 50 homes without power. Connecticut Light and Power, 17 homes in the state without power.

It does show you that at least on this edge of this storm, it has not been to this point, not been the devastating impact that many people have feared, John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Maybe with the preparation time, they had, Christine, they were able to get the situation exactly where they wanted it. Certainly, that's what we have seen on the roads here. Empty and people normally out driving right now. It is just emergency personnel out here.

You heard Chris Welch say 5.5 inches in Central Park. That was about an hour an a half ago. Now, we're up to 7 now. It's still snowing here and it is still accumulating, and there is a lot still to come. Just how much?

Meteorologist Derek Van Dam here with me.

You know, what's the forecast at this point?

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I think a lot of people have forgotten to talk about how strong the winds have been, 70-mile-an- hour wind gusts in Nantucket about an hour ago. On top of that, you have the blinding snow that reduces visibility underneath a quarter of an hour.

John, if that happens for a sustained three-hour period, it's considered blizzard conditions and that's what we're experiencing from basically Massachusetts, through Rhode Island, parts of Connecticut, the eastern and central parts of Long Island. Here in New York City, we are on the outer periphery of the heavy bands of snow. We have gotten several inches on the ground with another potential 6 to 7 inches to go. Totaling upwards of a foot of snow, but it's not going to break the record that was set back in 2006.

BERMAN: New York in the area around here, a foot plus of snow which is nothing to scoff at, by the way, that's a lot of snow. Up in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and the coast there, that's where they might get two to three feet. That is where the blizzard is right now and continuing until when?

VAN DAM: Full force right through the middle of today. And then we're going to see it start to pull away, but just because the snow has come to an end, doesn't mean the storm is done. The winds are powerful around this. Regardless of the plows moving through the city streets, the snow drifts are going to bring the snow right back on the roads and create tricky travel.

BERMAN: With the snow, one thing that is noticeable and even here where it is not as bad, it's coming from everywhere. It's not falling. It's just spreading. VAN DAM: We are protected by the buildings here. So, you can imagine

what it is on the shoreline, where there's no friction, like a building to stop the winds. It's compounding, allowing for the wind to really pick up if you're in Nantucket, 70-mile-pe-hour, which is nearly hurricane-force.

BERMAN: Powerful, powerful stuff. Derek thanks so much, thank you.

Nantucket, of course, in Massachusetts. Massachusetts is bearing the brunt of the storm. The new governor there, Charlie Baker, has declared a state of emergency. Logan airport, Boston's airport, is shutdown until late tomorrow. A statewide ban on all motor vehicle, that is in place for $500 fine for violators.

Imagine that, a statewide ban of driving. Hundreds of school systems have canceled classes today. No mail in Boston today. The postal service has cancelled delivery. A lot of the post offices are closed across the state.

National reporter Nick Valencia is live from Boston with the latest from there.

Good morning, Nick.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. You can see the wind is starting to pick up as you toss to me here. That has been the problem in the last hour, 4:00 a.m., according to Massachusetts state governor, this is supposed to be the height of the storm. Potentially high tide was supposed to happen at 4:00 a.m.

We have seen here (AUDIO GAP) where they are trying to clear out (AUDIO GAP) the snow. (AUDIO GAP) excess snow that they want to move off the streets with the containers (AUDIO GAPE)

In the last hour, we have seen it --

BERMAN: OK, Nick, sorry.

The storm causing issues with the communications gear. Sometimes it gets in the wires, jams things up a little bit.

That's the situation in Boston, where Nick essentially was saying was, it's bad and they are working hard to clear off the roads up there. They're going to see several more hours of the pounding snow in the heavy, heavy winds.

So, what about Rhode Island? The Ocean State. That has been hit very hard as well. State of emergency there declared by the new governor. All of the flights canceled at T.F. Green Airport in Providence.

The governor there ordered a strictly enforced travel ban across the state, strictly enforced. Classes canceled of public schools in providence and university of Rhode Island and Brown University.

Joining us with the latest from Providence is CNN's Sara Ganim.

Good morning, Sara.

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

Yes, you can definitely see snow accumulation here, but really what makes this storm different is the wind, the gusts of wind that comes every few seconds, between 30 and 45 miles an hour. Those are really what you notice when you are standing outside in the storm.

Now, so far, we have not seen a lot of power outages here in the state of Rhode Island. We have not seen a lot of the power outages yet. That could be partly because right now Providence, Rhode Island, this area is protected because the winds are coming in from the north, over land. Not from the south, those coastal winds that can be absolutely brutal.

Something that Rhode Islanders need to know, this is a coastal state. As you mentioned, every single one of the coastal communities is under a flood watch this morning that's because high tide is coinciding with the worst of the storm, which is expected to start now and going to go through. We really expect the peak winds in about two hours -- John.

BERMAN: All right. Sara Ganim for us in Rhode Island, a serious situation. Everyone to stay inside says the governor.

That's the story across the Northeast, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut as well.

Christine, you are getting a sense of how wide spread this weather event really is.

ROMANS: Yes, it's a big system and it is affecting a lot of states. New Jersey. We have checked on New Jersey. Also getting walloped by this blizzard here. The governor there, Governor Christie, declaring a state of emergency. There's a statewide travel ban in effect in New Jersey. Mass transit there shutdown as the storm intensified overnight.

Newark Airport -- Newark is open, but cancellations are outnumbering departures. Many schools are closed around the state. Governor Christie says they have been here before.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: We had Hurricane Irene, we had Hurricane Sandy. For better or worse, we know how to deal with these situations. I feel completely confident that the folks behind me and all the people that work for them are prepared, but you never know how bad the conditions are going to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: All right. Pennsylvania also operating under a state of emergency this morning. Hundreds of flights of Philadelphia's international airport have been canceled. There's limited public transportation. Pennsylvania's governor says stay off the roads if you can. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. TOM WOLF (D), PENNSYLVANIA: There will be snow on the roads. Big heavy equipment out there. So be careful, if you have to drive. If you don't have to drive, don't drive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: And don't fly if you don't have to fly. No flights are moving at major airports in the northeast. Newark, JFK, LaGuardia, Boston, Philadelphia at a standstill. More than 4,500 have been cancelled today, another 3,200 flights canceled yesterday and 4,500 canceled today.

The two biggest carriers, American and United, they have decided to cancel all their flights in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Airlines are hoping to resume normal service tomorrow, weather permitting. They're also letting passengers rebook flights for free.

Flight cancellations affecting 250,000 travels. That's rippling, of course, throughout the country. The backlog expected to make traveling a nightmare for probably through the end of the week.

All right. Forty-one minutes past the hour.

We are tracking the storm all morning long. We've got new video and new developments overnight. We come back live right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This is the blizzard of 2015 hitting the northeastern United States right now. The wind just died down. It's nice. It has been swirling. Sometimes, hard to keep your eyes open. Some 58 million people in 12 states hit by heavy snowfall.

More than 2 feet of snow in some areas. The winds gusting up more than 70 miles per hour in some places. Widespread travel bans. Non- emergency vehicles have been told to stay off the roads. Public transit have been shutdown, in New York, in other cities.

Thousands of flights have been canceled. Airports pretty much shutdown. A lot of schools and universities closed for the day. That is across the region. Several states -- it is a day just to stay home, stay safe, stay warm.

You know, the question is, how long is this all going to last? Meteorologist Derek Van Dam is with me.

VAN DAM: You want me to say it is about to stop.

BERMAN: I want it to be over. I'm about done.

VAN DAM: Not yet, John. We've still got a few more hours in New York City. At least through lunchtime hour time, we'll start to snow will taper off. The heavy snow bands that are currently on the TV screens, that is stretching from eastern Long Island, through parts of Massachusetts. They still have an additional 12 inches plus to go. They will see roughly the 2 to 3 foot snows we have been talking about. It's just that New York City has been on the outer periphery of the heavies of snowfalls.

BERMAN: And the winds up there. Gusts up there in Massachusetts, you know, 70 miles an hour. It's a little bit less than that. But how long will the winds keep going.

VAN DAM: OK, just because the snow ends doesn't mean the storm is done. The wind will continue to be a factor through Wednesday. That means wind-chill conditions and dangerous visibility, because it will blow the snow back on the roads.

BERMAN: So, be careful out there. Derek Van Dam, thanks so much.

VAN DAM: You're welcome.

BERMAN: In Massachusetts, crews are doing what they can to stay ahead of what the Governor Charlie Baker expects to be a top five blizzard.

Look at this -- this is a familiar scene. People shoveling sidewalks, as much as 3 feet of snow expected and some of the bands hitting that part of Massachusetts. Tow trucks removing cars. Snow plows clearing streets.

One woman spoke with said she expects Bostonians to heed the warnings and that they are ready.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know what? I think Boston does a great job of keeping streets clean and everybody does a great job kind of following the rules and staying off the roads when possible and whenever need be. So, I think we are ready for this and I think everything will go great.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Here in New York City, the snow plows have been out in force all night. They are trying to stay ahead of this storm in New York. This is a scene you don't see too often. Times Square, the crossroads of the world. Looking like a ghost town. There's a travel ban in place all over the city.

And, really, New Yorkers are heeding it. I mea, there's no cars out there. Grocery store shelves have essentially been empty before the brunt of the storm hit. They are hunkering down right now. It could be several more hours or a day before they are back out again.

Christine, one interesting thing, we are in Columbus Circle. I don't know if you can see the streets here behind me. But the plows have been coming through clearing. But you can't get them completely clear of snow.

Even though they plow, there is still 5 or 6 inches of gunk on the road. So, you know, I would not want to be a regular car driving out this morning, probably not for some time. Much later today, I think, Christine, before it is safe to get back out.

ROMANS: Well, it looks like the forecast still shows snow until 1:00 for New York City. Snow will continue much of the day further north. So, looking at the video of seven people walking through Times Square. The city that never sleeps is sound asleep this morning.

BERMAN: Yes.

ROMANS: Thank you, John. We're going to track this historic snowstorm all morning long.

But, first, President Obama on the way to Saudi Arabia -- the U.S. largest ally in the war on terror. We are live after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Breaking overnight: President Obama in the air right now, on his way to Saudi Arabia. He will pay respects to the late King Abdullah and reinforce America's crucial alliance with Saudi Arabia and its newly appointed king. To make the Saudi Arabia trip, the president had to cut short a historic three-day visit to India.

Michelle Kosinski is there. She's live from New Delhi this morning.

Michelle, what did the president accomplish on this visit?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine, right.

He is cutting it short by a few hours. I mean, he doesn't get to go to the Taj Mahal yet again. But I think he can check off some things on the list that were accomplishments. I mean, what's interesting is that, there were goals and a broad range of topics that the U.S. wanted to discuss with India and try to make some progress on, try to break down some barriers that have caused impasses in the past.

Nothing has really been signed and completed on the dotted line. But I think the big takeaways are commitment to more investment here, and commitment to breaking down barriers of trade, a renewal of the defense agreement to lead to sharing and co-developing military technology, civil nuclear agreement, meaning that U.S. companies now will have some more freedom to invest, to build nuclear reactors in India, because the U.S. would love that investment and India needs more power.

And also, on the environment. I mean, unlike the U.S.-China agreement that happened a few months back, the U.S. hasn't gotten India to try to cut back on its burning of fossil fuels. India needs power and a lot of it comes from coal. But it did get India to agree to expand clean energy, especially solar and wind.

So, a couple of big topics they say they made some breakthrough understandings on. We can expect some more progress to come down the road -- Christine.

ROMANS: Certainly, an important relationship. The world's oldest democracy and, of course, the world's largest democracy, very important alliance.

KOSINSKI: That's right.

ROMANS: Thank so much, Michelle.

All right. Fidel Castro breaking his silence over Cuba's attempts to restore diplomatic ties with the U.S. His words aren't exactly warm and fuzzy. Castro says, in part, quote, "I don't trust the policy of the United States nor have I exchanged a word with them. But this doesn't mean I reject a Pacific solution to the conflicts." Castro adds, "We will always defend cooperation and friendship with all the people of the world, including with our political adversaries."

A drone that crash-landed on the White House grounds leaves concerns about security this morning. The Secret Service says a hobbyist was behind the crash of a two-foot long quad copter. Officials say the man came forward to say he lost control of the device in flight.

Breaking news this morning: an historic blizzard shutting down some of the country's biggest cities this morning. The northeast blanketed with the snow, dangerous winds in some parts. Live team coverage ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)